Winding tube and tube support for drawtwisting machine



Dec. 26, 1961 w. v. HENRY 3,014,336

WINDING TUBE AND TUBE SUPPORT FOR DRAWTWISTING MACHINE Filed Au 8, 1957 INVENTOR. WILL/AM u HENRY TT RNE Y 3,014,336 WINDING TUBE AND TUBE ElUPPORT FUR DRAWT'WHSTENQ MACHINE William V. Henry, Asireville, N.C., assignor to American Enka Corporation, Erika, N.C., a corporation of Dela- Ware Filed Aug. 8, 1957, S8!- No. 77,077 3 Claims. or s7-ss.s

The present invention relates generally to the unwinding of yarn from a supply package and more particularly to the simultaneous unwinding of two'separate packages of yarn from opposite ends of a single winding tube, as well as a novel tube support for facilitating this operation.

In the manufacture of artificial yarn, especially nylon, it has been found expedient to wind two ends of yarn emerging from two separate spinning stations onto the same collecting or winding tube, thereby forming two independent packages spaced axially one from the other. While this system of collection has many advantages in the handling of yarn fed at a high rate of speed from the spinning machine, the same leaves much to be desired insofar as concerns subsequent handling. For example, it is generally desired that each yarn initially collected in multi-package form on a single winding tube be drawn, with or without twisting, and eventually wound in single package form onto a pirn or bobbin.

In the past, it has been customary to unwind tubes having a plurality of yarn packages thereon one end at a time. In the-practice of this system a first package is unwound while a second package remains at rest; thereafter, the position of the winding tube is reversed and the second package is unwound. For a more thorough description of this conventional practice, see US. Patent No. 2,029,226 to Etzkorn. At least one very important disadvantage to this operation, particularly in connection with the processing of nylon yarn, is that the second package continues to age during drawing and respooling of the first package, which requires approximately 20 hours for a 2 /2 pound package of low denier nylon, resulting in non-uniformly finished and unequally aged products. Furthermore, if a multi-package tube is respooled one end at a time, it can be seen that the expense resulting from the time ,of the operator and the extent of use of the machines is greater than would be the case if both packages could be unwound and processed simultaneously.

Two systems relating to the simultaneous unwinding of two ends of yarn from the same winding tube are suggested in the modifications disclosed in FIGURES 6 and 7 of US. Patent No. 2,366,336 to Hull. These systems are disadvantageous, however, in that each proposes that the multi-package-containing tube be mounted during unwinding with the longitudinal axis thereof extending in a vertical direction. Such a mounting leads to the sloughing off of yarn contained in the packages due to the effect thereon of gravity. Moreover, one package is disposed above another, which, due to the limited available space, results in raising of the tube support and rendering the upper package inaccessible, particularly for short operators. Additionally, packages containing freshly spun nylon yarn have a tendency to grow due to the moisture content thereof, which results in closing of the space initially provided between adjacent tubes. Inasmuch as the tube support of the aforesaid Hull patent must be mounted on the exterior of the tube, the same does not contribute to the separation of packages which have grown together in the manner mentioned. Furthermore, it has been found that substantially identical yarn paths should be provided in order to obtain more uniformity of product between the two packages and that considerable time and effort can be saved merely by providing ates Lira snap-on tube support of the type to be discussed more thoroughly herein.

One of the primary objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide a system for unwinding yarn not hav ing the disadvantages of known systems.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tube support for facilitating the simultaneous unwinding of two packages of yarn from a single tube.

A further object of this invention is to provide a modified winding tube and tube support therefor adapted for use on a drawtwisting machine in order that two ends of yarn simultaneously withdrawn from two separate packages contained on said tube may be uniformly treated and subsequently collected on separatepirns.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a cylindrical winding tube containing two separate yarn packages is non-rotatably suspended by a detachable tube support engaging only an internal wall portion located centrally between the two ends thereof, thus freeing said ends for simultaneous endwise unwinding of yarn from both packages. The tube support consists of a thin flat plate having flanged portions at one end and a hook portion at the opposite end. The support is inserted from within the tube subsequent to package winding but prior to unwinding and projects radially outwardly, whereupon the hook portion cooperates with a circumferential or peripheral groove in an elongated horizontally disposed bar and supports the tube with the longitudinal axis thereof lying in a horizontal plane.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure taken in conjunction with the enclosed drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view in elevation of a conventional drawtwisting machine adapted to use the winding tube and tube support of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a conventional winding tube modified in accordance with the present invention and a tube support inserted in operative position; 'and FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a tube support suitable for use with the winding tube of FIGURE 2.

A preferred embodiment will now be described with particular attention directed first to FIGURE 1 of the drawings. A portion of one side of a conventional drawtwisting machine is indicated generally by reference numeral 10*. This machine 10 comprises a supporting frame 11 on which two twisting stations 12 and 13 are mounted in known manner. Each twisting station comprises a ring 14 adapted to be reciprocated by a suitable traverse mechanism (not shown), a traveler 15 adapted to slide on each ring 14 during operation, a spindle on which pirn 16 is non-rotatably secured and suitable guides. The spindles may be rotated by belt means (also not shown).

Suitable means for drawing yarn are provided immediately above each twisting station. In the embodiment shown, each drawing means consists of feed roller 17, which cooperates with an idler roller 18, a draw pin 20, and a draw roller 21 which cooperates with a second idler roller 22. Attached to drawtwisting machine 10 in any suitable manner, such as by welding or removable mounting means (not shown), is an elongated bar 23. Bar 23 may extend the entire length of machine 10 and, if necessary'or desirable, may be braced at intervals along the length thereof. The bar 23 is provided with peripheral grooves 2 (only one of which is shown) extending respectively. The purpose of grooves 24 is not only to prevent relative movement between tube 25 and the drawtwisting machine during an unwinding operation, but also to prevent excessive vibration of the tube.

Turning now to FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that winding tube 25 has been provided with two diametrically opposed peripheral slots 26 which extend through the wall and circumferentially therearound and which are located substantially midway between the tube ends. Although only one slot is required for practice of the present invention, it has been found that two slots are necessary in order to maintain dynamic baiance of the tube during high speed winding-n of yarn.

The tube support indicated generally by reference numeral 27 comprises a thin fiat plate, preferably of resilient material, having an upper hook portion 28 and a lower portion consisting of legs 39, 31. A flange 32 extends normal to leg 36 in one direction and a fiange 33 extends normal to leg 33. in the opposite direction. The flanges 32, 33, which lie substantially in a common plane, cooperate with the inner wall surface of winding tube 25 and form stops which limit outward projection of support 27 therefrom and which therefore support tube 25 when in suspended position. The legs 30, 31 are divided by longitudinal slot 34 and therefore may be sprung, so to speak, in order that the two will not normally be co-planar but will lie in spaced and substantially parallel planes. The Width and length of circumferential slots 26 in tube 25 should be chosen only slightly greater than the corresponding thickness and width of the support 27. With these conditions of construction in mind, it can readily be seen that the tube support 27 must be forced into and therefore fits snugly within a slot 26, after which the relative position of tube and support will be resiliently maintained during the unwinding operation. The curved section 35 of hook portion 28 corresponds in size and shape to the circumferential grooves 24 formed in elongated bar 23.

In a specific application of this invention, a conventional 6 /8" O.D. Winding tube, 7 in length, was modified by cutting two diametrically opposed i slots through the wall thereof. These slots were formed midway between the ends of the tube and extended circumferentially for approximately 1%". The tube support, measuring approximately 3 in overall length and l%" in width, was formed from No. gauge stainless steel stock. Any material having sufiicient strength, resilience and resistance to tarnishing when exposed to acids could of course be used. The longitudinal slot separating the two legs was approximately 1" in length and the flanges extended approximately /8 in opposite directions normal to the plane of the support. Any material having proper size and strength could be used as the bar from which the tube support is suspended.

When it is desired to unwind simultaneously two packages 36, 37 from a single winding tube 25, a tube support 27 may be quickly and detachably inserted through a slot 26 formed in the wall of the tube and forced outwardly until flanges 32, 33 engage the inner surface thereof. The leading edge 38 of the tube support is rounded and functions during insertion to separate packages 36, 37, if the same have grown due to circumstances mentioned hereinabove, and tend to cover the circumferential slots 26. With the tube support snugly positioned within a slot, the operator hooks the support 27 within a groove 24 and threads yarn from package 36 through guide 40, to feed roller 17 and then throughout the drawtwisting machine in known manner. Yarn from package 37 likewise is fed through a guide 41 and then down through the drawtwisting machine. The guides 40, 41 are axially spaced equal distances from packages 36, 37, respectively, and may be attached to the drawtwisting machine in any known manner. Since the drawing and twisting stations serving these packages are identical, it will be seen that yarn from the two packages will be fed through similar paths, drawn, twisted, and col lected on pirns in identical fashion, which contributes considerably to uniformity of product. Additionally, only half the time heretofore required for unwinding is consumed. Furthermore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that only slight modification of existing components is required in the practice of this invention. The conventional drawtwisting machine need be modified only by providing an elongated bar 23 and suitable guides 49, 4-1, while the conventional winding tube need only be provided with slots suitable for the reception of tube support 27. The cost of such modification is very slight indeed when considered in the light of a consistently improved product.

The foregoing description is for purposes of illustration only. Various modifications within the purview of this invention will become apparent upon detailed study thereof. For example, the winding tube 25 could be suspended normal to the longitudinal axis of drawtwisting machine It whereupon package 36 could supply a position on one side of the machine and package 37 could supply a position on the opposite side. Moreover, the tube su port need not necessarily be fiat but could be of any configuration suitable for performing the package separating function as well as rigidly supporting the tube, in which case the circumferential slots 26 would of course be modified accordingly. It is intended, therefore, that this invention be limited only to the extent set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine having at least first and second yarn processing stations, a winding tube containing two axially spaced packages of yarn, means on said machine and on said winding tube for non-rotatably supporting said tube only from a portion substantially midway between the ends thereof and with the axis extending in a substantially horizontal plane, said supporting means positioning said winding tube substantially equidistant between said stations, and means for simultaneously unwinding yarn axially off said tube from one of said spaced packages to the first of said processing stations and axially off said tube from the other of said spaced packages to the second of said processing stations, the unwinding means providing substantially identical paths of yarn travel between the winding tube and the said processing stations.

2. A drawtwisting machine having at least first and second yarn drawing and twisting stations, an elongated bar secured to said machine, a winding tube containing two axially spaced packages of yarn, means for nonrotatably supporting said winding tube only from an internal portion substantially midway between the ends thereof and with the axis extending in a substantially horizontal plane, said supporting means cooperating with said elongated bar to position said winding tube substantially equidistant between said stations, and means for simultaneously unwinding yarn endwise from one of said spaced packages to the first of said stations and endwise from the other of said spaced packages to the second of said stations, the unwinding means providing substantially identical paths of yarn travel between the winding tube and the said stations.

3. A drawtwisting machine having at least first and second yarn drawing and twisting stations, an elongated bar secured to said machine and extending substantially horizontally at least between said stations, means defining at least one circumferential groove in said bar substantially equidistant between said stations, a winding tube containing two axially spaced packages of yarn, means defining at least one slot extending through the wall of said winding tube and circumferentially thereabout for a portion of the periphery, said slot being located substantially midway between the ends of said tube, a tube support adapted to fit within the slot of said winding tube and having flanges adapted to engage an internal portion thereof, a hook portion on the end of said tube support opposite said flanges adapted to be received by the cirm it" cumferential groove in said elongated bar and thereby non-rotatably support said Winding tube with the axis thereof lying in a substantially horizontal plane, and means for guiding and feeding yarn endwise from one of said spaced packages to the first of said stations and 5 simultaneously therewith endwise from the other of said spaced packages to the second of said stations, the guiding means providing substantially identical paths of yarn travel between the Winding tube and the said stations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Nichols I an. 4, Steere Jan. 11, Hunold Jan. 26, Wood Aug. 31, Kooistra Dec. 3, Remington Dec. 24, Bray Nov. 18, Martin Mar. 3, Hull J an. 2, Kaplan Apr. 27, Bethune et a1 June 29, Horvath Nov. 23, Kummel Ian. 3, Heinle June 2, 

